The Government Commercial Function (GCF) has launched the National Procurement Policy Statement Survey, inviting the public sector and supplier community to share their views on priorities of public procurement that will contribute to the development of the new National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS). The survey is designed to prompt ideas and insights from stakeholders and experts on how best to shape the NPPS to support a new, mission-driven approach to public procurement through increased value for money, social value, innovation and collaboration. The Cabinet Office is also looking to see how this new approach could support the delivery of the government’s missions alongside local priorities. The survey will close at midday on 4 November 2024.

The Government Commercial Function (GCF) has published the Public Procurement Review Service (PPRS) Progress Report 2022–2023, assessing trends from 6 April 2022 to 5 April 2023. The GCF has noted that the top four reported issues to PPRS were payment, evaluation, tender process and use of framework. In total, PPRS received 91 cases, a 3% decrease from the previous financial year, half of which were from new service providers. The GCF has noted that 100% of PPRS recorded case outcomes were measured as ‘positive’. Focuses for the financial year included increased operational transparency, more engagement with the voluntary, community and social enterprises sector, active support of the Small Business Crown Representative, stakeholder engagement and more work with teams across the GCF to ensure that issues raised are addressed, and help to improve commercial capability.

The Government Commercial Function (GCF) has published guidance on how to access the Procurement Act 2023 e-learning modules. The e-learning modules are aimed at all operational procurement staff and cover all aspects of the new reforms including regulation changes, transparency and the competitive flexible procedure. Certification will be awarded to those who complete the e-learning modules. The e-learning modules are available via registration with the Government Commercial College.

In-house analysis: Through their in-depth knowledge of the law and their business, general counsel (GCs) have a key role to play in organisations. But is the voice of the GC being heard? Businesses need a culture in which GCs are routinely consulted by the executive board and given the opportunity to help shape strategy. Veta T Richardson, President & CEO of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), talks about how ACC is advocating for GCs as key influencers of corporate culture and what needs to happen to get GCs’ voices heard.

Generic Design Assessment: The joint assessment by the Health and Safety Executive and the EA to ensure that any new nuclear power stations built in the UK meet the highest standards of safety, security, environmental protection and waste management.

The General Dental Council (GDC) has launched a consultation on proposed changes to its fitness to practise (FtP) guidance for case examiners and its undertakings bank, aimed at supporting fair, consistent and transparent decision-making. The proposals form part of wider efforts to reduce fear associated with FtP processes, which the GDC acknowledges can be lengthy, complex and stressful, and are intended to update the guidance, improve clarity, support proportionate outcomes and increase transparency in decision-making. Case examiners, who work in pairs comprising a dental professional and a lay member, assess allegations during investigations and decide whether cases should proceed to a practice committee hearing. Key proposals include enhanced guidance on sexual misconduct, discrimination and harassment, emphasising their seriousness and changes to the publication of warnings, including a standard 12-month publication period. The undertakings bank has also been revised to clarify its distinct role as a regulatory outcome, while the guidance has been simplified to reduce technical language and improve accessibility for registrants, representatives and complainants. Some changes align with existing practice committee guidance to promote consistency across the FtP process and the revised materials are intended to replace the current case examiners guidance manual, indicative outcomes guidance and undertakings bank. The consultation closes on 18 June 2026.

The General Dental Council (GDC) has published its guidance titled ‘Guidance on professional indemnity and insurance cover’, which is effective from 12 February 2024. The guidance covers different types of cover, when indemnity or insurance is not required, the need to meet professional responsibilities and lastly, questions to consider when arranging cover. The guidance highlights how the requirement to hold indemnity cover is set out in section 26A of the Dentists Act 1984 (DA 1984) for dentists and in DA 1984, s 36L for dental care professionals. The GDC has also noted in the guidance that there is a requirement to provide evidence of the cover to the GDC under the General Dental Council (Indemnity Arrangements) (Dentists and Dental Care Professionals) Rules Order of Council 2015, SI 2015/1758.

Geological Disposal Facility: A long term nuclear waste management option involving the disposal of waste in an engineered underground facility, where the geology provides a barrier against the escape of radioactivity and where the depth protects the waste from disturbances rising at the surface. Depth in this context can refer to both horizontal as well as vertical depth, for example if the disposal facility is built into the side of a mountain.

See Engie.

The Global Digital Finance (GDF) and the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) have published a joint proposal discussing the integration of the Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) into know your customer (KYC) and know your business (KYB) processes. It highlights how the LEI system can address inefficiencies and high operational costs associated with traditional client identification methods. By utilising the LEI's structured and validated reference data, financial institutions can automate client verification, reduce manual efforts, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. The proposal concludes with a call to action for greater adoption of LEIs to streamline due diligence processes, enhance compliance, and achieve cost efficiency in the financial industry.

On 31 January 2020, the UK ceased to be a member of the EU and EEA. From 1 January 2024, retained EU law that remains in force in UK law is known as ‘assimilated law’, in accordance with section 5 of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (REUL(RR)A 2023) and is generally to be interpreted according to ordinary domestic law and principles. Therefore, ‘GDPR’ can refer to both: • the Regulation (EU) 2016/679, General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR) regime (applicable under UK law until the end of the Brexit implementation period (11 pm UK time on 31 December 2020) and remaining applicable in the EEA—any references to EEA or EU states in this Practice Note should therefore be read to also include the UK until the end of that implementation period), and • the Assimilated Regulation (EU) 2016/679, Assimilated General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) regime (applicable under UK law from the end of the Brexit implementation period) Given the extent of data flows between the EEA and UK, the EU GDPR

MLex: Two rulings at the EU’s top court on the interpretation of how penalties should be calculated under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) indicate that national regulators of all kinds are unlikely to be given much leeway, according to an EU analysis of the findings. A note by the Council of the EU, which represents EU national governments, argued that the court is likely to make a similarly ‘strict’ interpretation of fining rules in other cases.